Gambian professor says Jammeh succumbs to alcohol and poses as devout in religion

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By AMADOU MANJANG

Professor Abdoulie Saine, a lecturer at Miami University in Ohio, US has told the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC) that former President Yahya Jammeh knows little about the Qur’an or the Bible, yet he poses as devout but succumb to alcohol and other things that are contrary to religion.

He said Jammeh convinced Gambians that he has paranormal powers that he could cure people and many other things, because people believe in such powers and supported him.

He said that Jammeh used religion as a tool to have the support of the majority to stay in power, adding that he himself know little about religion.

Dysfunctional army before 1994 coup
The US-based Gambian professor said then Gambia National Army (GNA) now Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) was in fraction, divided, dysfunctional institution prior the July 22, 1994 coup d’etat.

Saine is the first witness of Truth Commission in this year’s hearing which commenced on Monday, January 20, 2020 at the commission’s headquarter in Kololi.

Testifying on matters that led to the July 22 coup and the subsequent making of Jammeh dictatorship, the researcher said there are lot of factors that led to the coup, adding that the personal grievances and political ambitions of the junta members were reasons.

Environmental factors
How is the society organized? How are the recourses of the society distributed and who get what? And why?

He said these are fundament questions that need to be asked about factors that led to the coup.

According to Saine, the political and religious division of the society reflect the division and dysfunction in the army.

He said the society was “deeply divided” on the basis of economic formation of who gets what and why, adding that corruption was lofty in the government.

“People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and late president Jawara over stayed there welcoming power,’ he said, stating that allegations of corruption and travel expenses increased discontent in the society and the army.

He added late president Jawara created “power vacuum” when he said he wanted to step down but his supporters rejected it, that gives the military a chance to step in and overthrew his government.

Unpaid allowances and salaries
Prof. Saine said the soldiers that returned from the war tone countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone serving in the Ecomog were disappointed as the PPP government failed to pay their salaries or allowances which they vehemently protested against.

He said: “I believe overtime this created more resentment of the government.”

He added that the influx of refugees from Liberia and Sierra Leone put more strand on the limited resources of the country, which people were already not happy about.

“This contributed indirectly to the July 22, 1994 coup,” he said.

Jammeh’s use of legal framework to become dictator
He said the former president Yahya Jammeh used the constitution to cement his grip on power as a dictator with an iron fist.

He said Jammeh and his cohort engine the electoral process to make it favorite for them that’s why it was possible for them to win lot of elections.

The one-week campaign period he implemented was to avoid enough time for competition with oppositions parties, he used the ‘meet the people’s tour’ as a political campaign to have more time.

“He eliminated competition in the field of politics.’

He added that when Jammeh came to power he amended the constitution on age limit and tern limit to favor him to be the president.

The constitution of the Gambian has been amended 55 times during the 22 years of Yahya Jammhe’s rule; making provision for him to appoint and dismiss judges, for him to do business, and laws to muzzle the media.

“I think it are very calculated efforts to ensure there are no dissent voices,’ he said.

November 11 was a message
The November 11, 1994 massacre was a message to tell the Gambian that the AFPRC will eliminate any perceived enemy.

“It was a clear message to those who will try to oppose him,” he said.